Interview with literary romance author David Russell

Today's guest is romance writer David Russell. He's talking about his creative life, his book Self’s Blossom, and sharing an excerpt from the novel.

Bio:

UK writer of poetry, literary criticism, speculative fiction, and romance. Main poetry collection Prickling Counterpoints (1998); poems published in online International Times. Main speculative works High Wired On (2002); Rock Bottom (2005). Translation of Spanish epic La Araucana, Amazon 2013. Romances: Self’s Blossom; Explorations; Further Explorations; Therapy Rapture; Darlene, An Ecstatic Rendezvous (all pub Extasy (Devine Destinies). Singer-songwriter/guitarist. Main CD albums Bacteria Shrapnel and Kaleidoscope Concentrate. Many tracks on You Tube, under ‘Dave Russell’.

Welcome, David. Please tell us about your current release.

I have three stories pending release by Extasy Books: Seductive Semaphore, The Heroine and the Author, and Dancing with Danger.

What inspired you to write Self’s Blossom?

I was deeply influenced by a novel, The Girl Beneath the Lion (Le Lys de Mer), by French surrealist writer André Pieyre de Mandiargues, where a girl premeditates and orchestrates a seduction. Also a close friend of mine wrote a romantic novel which was a great catalyst to me.

Excerpt from Self’s Blossom:

Here, she was on a beach, pure and simple. Now the sea breathed heavily, whispering and murmuring to her. It was returning her stare, speaking to her. It was the spirit of love, beckoning her with a pulsing, sinewy body. In all its lines, shades, and fleeting forms, Selene saw the essence of pure beauty, all grace of form, flesh, limb and feature. It was in one, all the lovers of whom she could possibly dream, conflated into one elemental ideal. He, pure love in soul, bade her to enter his domain and make it hers. His arms moved her hands to unclasp, unbutton, and unzip . . . the blossom emerged. The sun became the eye of all that was not earth, and Selene loved fully, though the pallor of her skin left her momentarily abashed.

At first she lay in the tide's path, the top of her head at its most extreme mark. The sand bank made a soft bed. The sea lover smoothly caressed her calves, thighs, hips, breasts, shoulders, and cheeks before retreating to pause in his mossy pinnacles. Three times this action was repeated, and then Selene stood up, wading in with arms outstretched. Her arms were linked, as she stood up to her neck in the saline flow. The balls and heels of her feet wobbled, slithering on the moss. With the next wave, she lost her balance – her breath prepared in unison with the hissing around her. She threw her head back, once again horizontal, and launched into a backstroke, sweeping and circling. She parted her legs wide with each thrust of motion, each sweep of self-propulsion pushing out to answer the cavernous currents of his passion. Seven circles gave her a delicious, warm bliss –then the sea lover, well pleased, carried her back to a near-dry bed. Aching and contented, Selene dozed a while.

What exciting story are you working on next?

It is called Dreamtime Sensuality, and further explores the theme of premeditated seduction.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In my early twenties in the 1960s

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am semi-retired; I work part-time. I also do visual art and am a singer-songwriter (see bio)

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My use of archaic literary language to describe contemporary situations

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Famous, in some way or another

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I have some speculative writing in the online International Times, some poetry and artwork in Hidden Desires Romance.

Thanks, David!